U.S. patent number 5,394,770 [Application Number 08/044,979] was granted by the patent office on 1995-03-07 for core length adjuster.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Telflex Incorporated. Invention is credited to Randy J. Boike, Hubert Bung, Daniel F. Chegash, Donald Miller.
United States Patent |
5,394,770 |
Boike , et al. |
March 7, 1995 |
Core length adjuster
Abstract
A motion transmitting remote control assembly 10 of the type for
transmitting motion along a curved path comprising a conduit 12, a
flexible motion transmitting core element 14 movably supported
within conduit 12, and an adjustment member 16 connected to one of
the conduit 12 and core element 14 for adjusting the effective
length thereof. The adjustment member 16 comprises an adjustment
housing 24 having a first opening 30, a slider member 26 movably
disposed in the housing 24, and a locking member 28 movably
disposed in the first opening 30 between a locked position to
prevent adjustment of the slider member 26 relative to the housing
24 and an unlocked position to allow adjustment of the slider
member 26 relative to the housing 24. The housing 24 has bridges 74
extending across the first opening 30 for alternatively holding the
locking member 28 in the locked and unlocked positions.
Inventors: |
Boike; Randy J. (Clarkston,
MI), Bung; Hubert (Rochester Hills, MI), Chegash; Daniel
F. (Roseville, MI), Miller; Donald (Auburn Hills,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Telflex Incorporated (Limerick,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
21935353 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/044,979 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/502.4;
403/104; 403/379.4; 74/500.5; 74/501.5R; 74/502.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C
1/14 (20130101); F16C 1/223 (20130101); F16C
2361/65 (20130101); Y10T 74/20462 (20150115); Y10T
74/20402 (20150115); Y10T 403/7086 (20150115); Y10T
74/2045 (20150115); Y10T 74/20408 (20150115); Y10T
403/32426 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F16C
1/22 (20060101); F16C 1/10 (20060101); F16C
001/10 (); F16B 007/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;74/500.5,51.5R,502,502.4,502.6 ;403/42,104,345,379 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Luong; Vinh T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reising, Ethington, Barnard, Perry
& Milton
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) of the type
for transmitting motion along a curved path, said assembly (10)
comprising:
(a) a conduit (12);
(b) a flexible motion transmitting core element (14) movably
supported within said conduit (12);
(c) adjustment means (16) connected to one of said conduit (12) and
core element (14) for adjusting the effective length thereof, said
adjustment means (126) comprising:
i) an adjustment housing (24) having a first opening (30) and a
second opening (32) intersecting said first opening (30);
ii) a slider member (26) having slider teeth (42) slidably disposed
in said second opening (32);
iii) a locking member (28) having locking teeth (44) engageable
with said slider teeth (42) and movably disposed in said first
opening (30) between a locked position with said locking teeth (44)
engaging said slider teeth (42) and an unlocked position with said
locking teeth (44) disengaging said slider teeth (42); and
characterized by
iv) said adjustment housing (24) having housing teeth (34) disposed
in said first opening (30) and engageable with said locking teeth
(44) for guiding the movement of said locking member (28) between
said unlocked position and said locked position wherein said
housing teeth (34) engage with said locking teeth (44) while said
locking teeth (44) engage said slider teeth (42).
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said
adjustment housing (24) having a bridge (74) extending across said
first opening (30) for alternatively holding said locking member
(28) in said locked position to prevent adjustment of said slider
member (26) relative to said adjustment housing (24) and said
unlocked position to allow adjustment of said slider member (26)
relative to said adjustment housing (24).
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized by said first
opening (30) having a rectangular shape and comprising a first pair
of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides wherein said
bridge (74) is spaced apart from said first pair of parallel sides
and extends across and connects said second pair of parallel
sides.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized by said locking
member (28) having an upper groove (64) and a lower groove
(66).
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized by said bridge
(74) having a tab (76) for alternatively engaging said upper groove
(64) to hold said locking member (28) in said locked position and
said lower groove (66) to hold said locking member (28) in said
unlocked position.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said locking
member (28) having a pair of legs (48) between and around which the
slider member (26) extends.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized by said pair of
legs (48) having exterior surfaces (50) and interior surfaces
(52).
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized by said locking
teeth (44) positioned along a portion of said exterior (50) and
interior (52) surfaces of said pair of legs (48).
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized by said pair of
legs (48) comprising non-teeth portions (58) for preventing removal
of said slider member (26) from said adjustment housing (24) when
said locking member (28) is in said unlocked position and for
preventing movement of said slider member (26) relative to said
adjustment housing (24) when said locking member (28) is in said
locked position.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said flexible
core element (14) including a rigid tubular rod (18) fixedly
secured to one end thereof, said rod (18) fixedly secured to said
adjustment means (16).
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by a locking
member removal facilitating means for facilitating the removal of
said locking member (28) from said locked position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further characterized by said
facilitating means including a notch (68) disposed on said locking
member (28) and a corresponding slanted groove (70) adjacent said
first opening (30).
13. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said locking
member (28) having a central axis (52).
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized by said locking
member (28) being symmetrical about said central axis (52).
15. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said first
opening (30) transversely intersecting said second opening
(32).
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said slider
member (26) having a slider axis (82).
17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized by said slider
member (26) being symmetrical about said slider axis (82).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject invention relates to a motion transmitting remote
control assembly of the type wherein motion is transmitted in a
curved path by a flexible motion transmitting core element movably
supported by a flexible conduit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Remote control assemblies of the type for transmitting motion along
a curved path normally include means adjacent each end of the
conduit for attaching the conduit to a support structure with the
core element extending from each end of the conduit. It is
frequently desirable to adjust the effective length of the core
element. An example of such a situation is wherein a remote control
assembly is utilized to interconnect the shift control located in
the interior of an automobile and a manual transmission operating
lever.
One such remote control assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,887,930 granted Dec. 19, 1989 in the name of Chaczyk et al. The
Chaczyk '930 patent discloses a manual core adjust assembly
comprising a housing, a slider and a locking member movable between
a first adjustment and a second locked position. The locking member
includes a tab that engages the housing for holding the locking
member in the second locked position.
Other remote control core adjust assemblies are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,177,691; 4,688,445; and 4,841,805.
None of the above patents disclose a motion transmitting remote
control assembly of the type for transmitting motion along a curved
path comprising a housing, a slider member movably disposed in the
housing, and a locking member movably disposed in the housing
between a locked and unlocked position wherein the housing has a
bridge for alternatively holding the locking member in the locked
position to prevent adjustment of the slider member relative to the
adjustment housing and the unlocked position to allow adjustment of
the slider member relative to the adjustment housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The apparatus of the present invention is a motion transmitting
remote control assembly of the type for transmitting motion along a
curved path. The assembly comprises a conduit, a flexible motion
transmitting core element movably supported within the conduit, and
an adjustment means connected to one of the conduit and core
element for adjusting the effective length thereof. The adjustment
means comprises an adjustment housing having a first opening and a
second opening intersecting the first opening and a slider member
having slider teeth slidably disposed in the second opening. The
adjustment means also comprises a locking member having locking
teeth engageable with the slider teeth and movably disposed in the
first opening between a locked position with the locking teeth
engaging the slider teeth and an unlocked position with the locking
teeth disengaging the slider teeth. The assembly is characterized
by the adjustment housing having a bridge extending across the
first opening for alternatively holding the locking member in the
locked position to prevent adjustment of the slider member relative
to the adjustment housing and the unlocked position to allow
adjustment of the slider member relative to the adjustment
housing.
The main advantage of the present invention over the prior art is a
core length adjuster with a manually operated locking member having
grooves and a housing having bridges with tabs which engage the
grooves of the locking member to hold the locking member in either
the locked or unlocked position. The design of the present
invention allows the locking member as well as the slider member to
be symmetrical thereby preventing errors in assembly. The design of
the present invention allows for a simpler mold design than that of
the prior art thereby cutting the molding process cost. The design
of the present invention is more compact than that of the prior art
thereby allowing the apparatus of the present invention to fit
through smaller confined areas, such as holes. The design of the
present invention allows for a greater shear strength to adjuster
size ratio than that of the prior art while achieving this with the
core length adjuster of the present invention weighing
substantially less and using less overall material than the prior
art core length adjusters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention as used in one of its intended environments;
FIG. 2 is an exploded pictorial view of the preferred embodiment of
the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a top view of the preferred embodiment with the locking
member removed.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along
line 4,5--4,5 in FIG. 2 with the locking member shown in the
unlocked position.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along
line 4,5--4,5 in FIG. 2 with the locking member shown in the locked
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a motion transmitting remote control assembly
10 comprising a conduit 12, a flexible motion transmitting core
element 14 movably supported within the conduit 12, and an
adjustment member 16 for adjusting the effective length of the core
element 14 and/or the conduit 12 is shown in one of its intended
environments. The core element 14 has a rigid tubular rod 18
secured to one end thereof by conventional means, such as crimping,
welding, or soldering. The rod 18 of the core element 14 is secured
to the adjustment member 16 in a manner which will be described in
detail below. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the conduit 12 could be
secured to the adjustment member 16 directly instead of the core
element 14. The assembly 10 is connected, in a manner to be
detailed latter, at one end to a device 20 to be remotely
controlled, such as a vehicle transmission operating lever, and at
the other end to a control member 22, such as a vehicle
transmission lever for shifting gears.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the adjustment member 16 comprises an
adjustment housing 24, a slider member 26, and a locking member
28.
The adjustment housing 24 comprises a first rectangular opening 30
extending therethrough and a second rectangular opening 32 in the
housing 24 transversely intersecting the first rectangular opening
30. The housing 24 comprises housing teeth 34 which are disposed in
the first rectangular opening 30. The purpose of the housing teeth
34 will become apparent from the remainder of the specification.
The cross-sectional area of the slider member 26 generally conforms
to the cross-sectional area of the second rectangular opening 32.
The housing 24 also comprises a connector aperture 36 for
connecting the housing 24 to a ball hitch 38 fixedly secured to the
device 20 to be remotely controlled as shown in FIG. 1.
The slider member 26 is slidably disposed within the second
rectangular opening 32. The slider member 26 comprises a pair of
longitudinally disposed rectangular slots 40. Within the slots 40
are disposed opposing parallel rows of slider teeth 42. A portion
of the rod 18 of the core element 14 is molded within the slider
member 26 thereby securing the core element 14 to the slider member
26.
The locking member 28 having locking teeth 44 is movably disposed
in the first rectangular opening 30 between an unlocked position,
as shown in FIG. 4, and a locked position, as shown in FIG. 5. In
the unlocked position, the locking teeth 44 of the locking member
28 do not engage the slider teeth 42 of the slider member 26. In
the locked position, the locking teeth 44 engage the slider teeth
42. The locking member 28 comprises a top body portion 46 and a
pair of legs 48 between and around which the slider member 26
extends. The legs 48 have exterior surfaces 50, interior surfaces
52, a front portion 54, and back portion 56. The locking teeth 44
are positioned along a portion of the exterior surfaces 50 and
interior surfaces 52 of the pair of legs 48. The housing teeth 34
disposed in the first rectangular opening 30 are engageable with
the locking teeth 44 on the exterior surfaces 50 for guiding the
movement of the locking member 28 between the unlocked and locked
positions.
The pair of legs 48 have non-teeth portions 58 for preventing
removal of the slider member 26 from the housing 24 when the
locking member 28 is in the unlocked position. When the locking
member 28 is in the unlocked position only the non-teeth portions
58 of the locking member 28 extend into the rectangular slots 40
thus allowing a user of assembly 10 to freely slide the slider
member 26 within the second rectangular opening 32. However, the
non-teeth portions 58 limit the movement or adjustment of the
slider member 26 relative to the housing 24 between a fully
extended position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a fully withdrawn
position, as shown in FIG. 4. When the locking member 28 is in the
unlocked position and the slider member 26 is pulled to the fully
extended position, the non-teeth portions 58 act as a stopper
engaging first slot end walls 60 thereby preventing the removal of
slider member 26 from the housing 24. When the locking member 28 is
in the unlocked position and the slider member 26 is pushed to the
fully withdrawn position, the non-teeth portions 58 again act as a
stopper engaging second slot end walls 62 thereby limiting the
amount the slider member 26 can be pushed into the second
rectangular opening 32 of the housing 24.
The front and back portions 54, 56 of legs 48 have upper grooves 64
and lower grooves 66. The purpose of grooves 64, 66 will be
described latter in this description. Notches 68 disposed on the
top body portion 46 of locking member 28 and corresponding slanted
grooves 70 disposed on the housing 24 adjacent the first
rectangular opening 30 are provided to facilitate the removal of
the locking member 28 from the locked position. When the locking
member 28 is in the locked position a user can insert the tip of a
flat headed screwdriver or similar type tool into one of the
slanted grooves 70 and corresponding notches 68 and use the
screwdriver to pry on the top body portion 46 of locking member 28
until the locking member 28 is removed from the locked position.
The locking member 28 is symmetrical about a central axis 72.
The motion transmitting remote control assembly 10 is characterized
by the housing 24 comprising bridges 74 extending across said first
rectangular opening 30 for alternatively holding the locking member
28 in the locked position to prevent adjustment of the slider
member 26 relative to the housing 24 and the unlocked position to
allow adjustment of the slider member 26 relative to the housing
24. The bridges 74 have tabs 76 for alternatively engaging upper
grooves 64 to hold the locking member 28 in the locked position, as
shown in FIG. 5, and lower grooves 66 to hold the locking member 28
in the unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 4. The bridges 74 must
be flexible enough to allow the tabs 76 to engage the grooves 64,
66.
In operation, the core element 14 end not connected to rod be is
connected to the control member device 22 and housing 24 is
connected to the device 20 to be controlled via the connector
aperture 36 and ball hitch 38. As shown in FIG. 1, the conduit 12
is fixedly secured at one end to a first fixed section 78
positioned adjacent the device 20 to be controlled and at the other
end to a second fixed section 80 positioned adjacent the control
member 22. With this configuration, the core element 14 is free to
slide within the conduit 12 thereby transmitting motion in a curved
path from a control member 22 to a device 20 to be controlled. The
slider member 26 is then slid into the first rectangular opening
30. It is important to note that there is no top or bottom
orientation for the slider member 26 it is slid into the first
rectangular opening 30, i.e., the slider member 26 is symmetrical
about a slider axis 82. Although not shown, the slider teeth 42 may
be chamfered at one or both ends to facilitate the engagement of
the locking teeth 44 with the slider teeth 42 when the locking
member 28 is pushed into the locked position. The locking member 28
is manually inserted into the first rectangular opening 30 of the
housing 24 such that the legs 48 are disposed within the slots 40,
the tabs 76 on the bridges 74 are engaged in the lower grooves 66
and the locking teeth 44 on the exterior surface 50 of legs 4S are
engaged and guided by the housing teeth 34. The locking member 28
is held in the unlocked position by the tabs 76 engaged within the
lower grooves 66. The housing teeth 34 guide the locking member 28
via the locking teeth 44 on the exterior surfaces 50 from the
unlocked position to the locked position. While the locking member
is in the unlocked position, the slider member 26 is able to slide
within the housing 24 without being inadvertently removed from the
second rectangular opening 32 due to the non-teeth portions 58
within the slots 40.
Once the effective length the core element 14 is adjusted by
sliding the slider member 26 either into or out of the housing 24
the locking member 28 is manually urged downwardly to the locked
position wherein the tabs 76 engage the upper grooves 64 thereby
holding the locking member 28 in the locked position. As the
locking member 28 is urged downwardly the bridges deflect or flex
away from the front and back portions 54, 56 of legs 48 to allow
passage of the locking member 28. In the locked position, the
locking teeth 44 are engaged with the slider teeth 42. In the
locked position, the slider member 26 cannot move relative to the
housing 24 since both the top body portion 46 and the non-teeth
portions 58 of the locking member 28 abut the perimeter of the
first rectangular opening 30. Additionally, the housing teeth 34
also act to prevent the movement of the slider member 26 within the
housing 24.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and
are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described.
* * * * *